News from HCA's Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery

Thank you for joining us at this year's Prevention Summit!

Thank you to those who joined us at the 2024 Washington State Prevention Summit and annual provider meeting in Seattle, WA.

Welcome to the new The Athena Forum website!

Over the past year, the Washington State Health Care Authority's (HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) prevention staff have been working hard behind the scenes to update The Athena Forum website. We are excited to announce the launch of the new site on Monday, October 28. Thank you to all those who contributed to the new site by providing their time, sharing feedback, and offering suggestions.

Improvements to the website were centered around equity, accessibility,… read more

Reminder: The required effective implementation training for CPWI providers is next week!

Are you registered for next week's effective implementation training?

The next training in the CPWI strategic planning series will focus on effective implementation and be held on Tuesday, October 8, 9:30 a.m. to noon. If you have not already, please register in advance of this training. 

UW's SDRG will facilitate the training and assist participants increase their knowledge and skills related to:

Documenting the tasks essential for ensuring… read more

Intensive technical assistance for CPWI providers

The Washington State Health Care Authority's (HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) is excited to announce that intensive technical assistance (TA) for CPWI providers is now available through UW's SDRG. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) What's the purpose of intensive TA? To receive support or guidance on a request that can't seem to be resolved by your prevention manager and the CPWI lead.   When can I use intensive TA?  If your… read more

New strategic planning page on The Athena Forum

The Health Care Authority's (HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) is excited to share its new strategic planning page, Strategic planning resources: How to update or write a plan for your coalition. This page can be accessed via The Athena Forum, under the "Providers" heading. 

To assist you in your community planning efforts, we put together this page of resources to help you when and how you need them. Some of these resources are specific to the… read more

The 2024 Washington State Prevention Summit: Registration and sponsor/exhibitor opportunities and graphics, oh my!

While saying goodbye to warmer temperatures, longer days, and summer activities is never easy, it does mean it's almost time for the Washington State Prevention Summit and annual provider meeting! 

This year's summit will be held on Wednesday, October 30, and Thursday, October 31, with the annual provider meeting preceding the conference on Tuesday, October 29. Both events will take place at the Westin Seattle. 

Join HCA's DBHR for two (or three!) days packed with… read more

The Athena Forum is under construction!

The Athena Forum upgrade is in progress, with the new site expected to be completed and launched by the end of September. As we near the project deadline, our vendor is hard at work making updates to the existing website in preparation for its content to be migrated to the new site. While we are actively trying to minimize disruptions to the The Athena Forum, you may encounter broken links or pages. If his happens and you need assistance accessing resources and/or information, please email… read more

2024 data books are in Minerva 2.0

For Community Wellness and Prevention Initiative (CPWI) providers, a 2024 data book has been added to your document library in Minerva 2.0!

Your document library is located under “Resources,” on the page “Document Library.” Select the hyperlink, “Community Name Data Book 2024” to open the document, and from that page select the hyperlink, “Community Name Data Book 2024” to download your PDF.

A reminder, a data book is provided solely for coalition planning purposes and includes… read more

In case you missed it: Spring Youth Forum recap

The 2024 Spring Youth Forum was held on Wednesday, May 8, at the Great Wolf Lodge, bringing together 40 youth prevention leaders from across Washington state. These young leaders have been instrumental in championing various prevention projects throughout the state ranging from reducing substance misuse, promoting mental health, and increasing awareness of fentanyl. This year's conference saw a remarkable turnout with over 350 participants, including youth, adult chaperones, and volunteers. The event was met with overwhelming positive feedback from attendees, highlighting its success and impact.

The Health Care Authority is hiring a Prevention System Manager (MAPS3/DBHR)!

We are seeking a Prevention System Manager (PSM) to join our team, where you will use your expertise to shape statewide substance use disorder prevention programs. In this role, you'll exercise significant independent judgment, oversee programmatic policies, and develop strategic prevention initiatives. You'll monitor compliance with state and federal contracts, provide culturally sensitive training, and lead identification and quality assurance of evidence-based prevention strategies. Enjoy telework flexibility while making a meaningful impact on public health and prevention efforts across the state!